University: Curtin University

Degree: Bachelor of Science, Psychology and Human Resource Management

School Subjects: Mathematics Methods, Literature, Biology, Economics, Chemistry

____________________________________________

Introduction

Going into ATAR, the only thing I was certain about was wanting a career revolving around people. I wanted a profession that felt engaging and meaningful rather than one that left me feeling disconnected or bored. Psychology is the study of the human mind and behaviour. On the other hand, Human Resource Management explores how a business can achieve its potential whilst maximising employees’ wellbeing, performance and job satisfaction. As such, this double major is ideal for people who are interested in working with others, workplace environments, and understanding human behaviour. It’s a double major that complements each other well. It offers a balanced mix of Psychology (behaviour, statistics, healthcare, etc.) and HR (workplace sustainability, employee retention, business operations, etc.). If you’re torn between Psychology and Commerce, this degree provides a solid middle ground.

Content

A thing to note before I continue is that completing Psychology ATAR is not a prerequisite or a necessity to study Psychology at university. Your first year will cover all necessary foundational content you’ll need to know moving forward. I recently completed my first year and found the workload manageable. From personal experience, dedicating at least one full day per week to coursework helps prevent last-minute stress, especially when multiple assessments are due at once. As such, this major is ideal if you’re looking for a degree that helps you have a good balance between study, work, and life, especially when compared to other degrees like Engineering, which require high contact hours.

Across both majors, the assessment types vary – often depending on the unit you take. Most of my units were assignment heavy, with the occasional unit featuring weekly online quizzes. There aren’t many exams, and some are even open book. An overlooked part of Psychology that you might not be aware of is that it does involve statistical components. So far, I’ve taken Biostatistics and Epidemiology, which I found straightforward. If you attend the lectures, tutorials, and computer labs and engage with the material, it is manageable. However, low attendance rates and procrastinating on lectures can make it seem more complex than it is.

As these majors are assignment heavy, I highly recommend you become familiar with how to reference in university. My double major requires two different referencing styles: APA for Psychology and Chicago for Commerce – which can be confusing at first. Using the wrong referencing format will lead to mark deductions, so understanding these distinctions early is beneficial.

Advice for Future University Students

Stay organised and consistent with your studies. You won’t have teachers or lecturers poking your shoulder telling you to keep up; university is very self-guided. Planning your timetable wisely, prioritising tasks, and setting aside dedicated study time each week is crucial to avoid last-minute stress and to allow time for life outside of university, including part-time work and a social life.